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FOUR WORLD LEADS, WINS FOR
OLIVER, HARPER, FELIX, DIX

DAEGU (KOR, May 12): Colorful Pre-Championships meeting on the blue
track in Daegu (IAAF World Challenge) registered in rather cool evening (13
degrees) and nearly wind-less conditions before 15 000 spectators world leading
marks of the year in four events. The same number of events also registered
meeting records. At the site of this years World Championships David Oliver
although hitting some barriers clocked 13.14 (0.0) clearly ahead of Aries
Merritt (13.30) and Jamaican Dwight Thomas (13.40). “Ran 13.14 for the win, not
the best of races or conditions, but got the job done,” he said on his twitter.
World champion Allyson Felix opened her 200 m season in nice style and smoothly
achieved world leading and meet record 22.38 (+0.4). Connie Moore was way back
second (23.16) ahead of Russian Aleksandr Fedoriva (23.17). Third world lead
(and also meet record) was registered in women high jump when Asian Games
medalist and Berlin finalist Zheng Xingjuan
cleared 194 and beat on count-back Marina Aitova of Kazakhstan also 194 but one more
miss at previous heights. 2004 Olympic winner Yelena Slesarenko was 5th (185).
In the final running event the fastest steeple of the year for Hillary Yego
(still a junior) who is world youth gold medalist 2009 and improved to
excellent 8:12.08 (also a meet record). It is the 7th fastest ever for a
junior. Second African champion Richard Mateelong 8:12.15 and close third Silas
Kitum 8:12.17 (PB, only 20 years old). Two thrillers happened on the
homestretch. First at 100 m
hurdles Dawn Harper after great finish won in 12.73 ahead of Kellie Wells 12.81
(she was the strongest in the middle of the race) and unlucky Lolo Jones
(12.95, best start, then fighting with Harper, but collided just after last
hurdle). Briton Tiffany Ofili was fourth 13.03. In the men´s 100 m Rae Edwards and
Churandy Martina false started and were out. US Indoor Champion Mike Rodgers
had the best start but Walter Dix better finish and won in 10.00 over 10.03
(+0.3). Norwegian Jaisuma Saidy Ndure confirmed his European current number one
position with 10.09. The one lap races ended with surprises. Johnny Dutch went
over Bershawn Jackson after last hurdle of 400 m hurdles (49.03 and
49.14) with olympic champ Angelo Taylor distant third (49.67). David Neville
was leading into last meters of 400
m but was beaten at the tape by Japanese Yuzo Kanemaru
in the outside lane (45.23 – 45.24). Third Calvin Smith jr. 45.36. Middle
distances got another fast win for Ukrainian Doha first placer and world leader
Anna Mishchenko (4:03.52, also meet record) ahead of Ethiopian Meskerem Assefa
(4:03.63, lifetime best). At 6th place world junior champion from Moncton
Tizita Bogale of Ethiopia
with personal best 4:06.15. Kenyan win for Boaz Lalang in men´s 800 m (1:45.90). German
favorite Silke Spiegelburg as only one cleared 450 in pole vault and was
clear winner of the competition (tried 465 afterwards). Bad luck for Russian
co-favorite Yulia Golubchikova who injured herself at 430. Javelin ended with
an unexpected win for Igor Janik of Poland who had two best throws of
the day 82.18 and 81.05. Only one more over 80+ was German Mark Frank (80.45).
Olympic medalist Zhang Wenxiu dominated the hammer (part of IAAF Hammer
Challenge) with 73.40 and 73.30. Second Zalina Marghieva 71.14 ahead of Tatyana
Lysenko 70.40 and Martina Hrasnova 68.40. Close-call in women long jump as
Funmi Jimoh had the same 652 (+0.6) as second Anna Nazarova (652, +0.5) but no
more valid jumps. Jimoh had only one more valid 635 and that decided about the
win. In the last technical event (all events had four attempts) home win
happened. Korean record holder Kim Duk-Hyung with only valid jump 16.99 (+1.3)
won the triple jump. Favorites were close, Leevan Sands and Alexis Copello both
managed 16.97.

BRAZILIAN TOUR STARTED

FORTALEZA (BRA, May 11): Brazilian Athletics Tour
started with an evening meeting GP Caixa Unifor in Fortaleza which was orientated towards
distance running. Four meeting records were established. Kenyans, World junior
champion David Bett clocked 13:24.65 at 5000 m, Bernard Mbugua 8:24.64 in the steeple
were responsible for two. In women steeple Ethiopians Almaz Ayana (9:41.86 –
meet record) and Mekdes Bekele (9:45.91) prevailed over world junior champion
Purity Kirui (9:49.93). Excellent improvement for 36 year old Brazilian runner
Cruz Nonata da Silva with 15:27.74, also new meet record. She did not had sub
16 before. In expected 800 m
world junior champion from Moncton David Mutua beat in 1:46.56 best home
runners (Kleberson Davide 1:46.76). US Molly Beckwith was the best in women 800 m (2:02.50). New meeting
records were registered also in both shot put competitions. Trinidad´s record
holder Cleopatra Borel-Brown achieved 19.17 and beat Cubans headed by Misleidys
Gonzalez (18.66) and Cuban Carlos Veliz with 19.92 over Marco Fortes of
Portugal 19.46. Discus wins for Cuban Jorge Fernandez (62.71, meet record) and
Lithuanian Zinaida Sendriute (59.64). New national 5000 m track walk record for
Cisiane Dutra Lopes with 22:27.19.

ASHMEADE FOR NY

NEW YORK (USA): Nickel Ashmeade, now training with Tyson Gay, under the
watchful eye of coach/advisor of Lance Brauman, surprised many with his fine
19.95 opener over 200
meters at the Jamaica International Invitatinal. He runs
next in Ponce
on Saturday the 100 m
and is also confirmed for the adidas Grand Prix, to be held on June 11, 2011 at
Icahn Stadium on Randalls Island, New York. He will run also the 100 m in New York where Tyson Gay should have his
opener at the distance. Organizers are planning heats and finals for the short
dash.

TOP THROWS AT PRE

EUGENE (USA): Four throws planned for the
2011 Prefontaine Classic on June 4th are having the top quality and include the
reigning Olympic or World Champion. In men shot put Tomasz Majewski and
Christian Cantwell (added by world leader Dylan Armstrong and Euro winner
Andrey Mikhnevich), in men discus Gerd Kanter and Robert Harting (added by
European Champ Piotr Malachowski and all-time great Virgilijus Alekna). In
women javelin world record holder Barbora Spotakova who is also reigning
olympic winner against her main rivals Christina Obergfoll and Mariya
Abakumova. Women shot put will see European Champion Nadezhda Ostapchuk against
US
record holder Jill Camarena-Williams.

WARINER, CULSON, GATLIN IN PONCE

PONCE (PUR): Caribbean highlight of the
weekend will be 5th edition of Ponce Grand Prix on Paquito Montaner Stadium.
Capacity crowd will expect mainly Berlin
medalist home star Javier Culson at 400 m hurdles against young Trinidad talent Jehue Gordon, US Michael Tinsley and Jamaicans
Markino Buckley with Danny McFarlane. Another highlight is the men´s 400 m with world number one
last year Jeremy Wariner against Reny Quow of Trinidad.
Men´s 100 m
will see former champion Justin Gatlin in race against Jamaican talents, fresh
Kingston 200 m
winner Nickel Ashmeade and also improved last year World junior champion Dexter
Lee. In the 200 m
Gatlin should clash with South American record holder Alonso Edward from Panama. In the
women sprints Lauryn Williams is up to against Melisa Barber, Aileen Bailey and
Debbie Ferguson. In the 200 m
Debbie Dunn and Porscha Lucas are added. The one lap will see Kingston winner Novlene Williams-Mills
against US Natasha Hastings. Short hurdles will have close finishes. In men´s
race US trio Jason
Richardson, Ronnie Ash and Jeff Porter will race against Dutch Gregory Sedoc,
in women´s race surprise Kingston winner Tiki
James is there with Nichole Denby and Jamaican Vonette Dixon. Sheena Tosta is the main name for
women 400 m
hurdles. From technical events both long jumps are offering solid fields. Men
with Jamaican Alain Bailey (best of 835) and US Olympian Trevell Quinley (836)
and women with Canadian Ruky Abdulai, Colombian in-shape Catherine Ibarguen and
Ukrainian Viktoriya Rybalko.

OTHER NEWS

ST. MARTIN (FRA): Also in Guadeloupe the action continues on Saturday
with St. Martin meeting. Top headliner is
Antigua´s record holder and World championships fourth placer Daniel Bailey for
the 100 m.
He will clash with Jamaican relay world record holder Michael Frater. They
might attack the meet record 10.09 of Greg Saddler in 2002.

MANCHESTER (GBR): European 10 000 meters silver medallist Chris Thompson
despite recently running a lifetime best for the distance may compete over
5000m at this summer’s World Championships. Thompson feels that might be his
best option given his lack of experience in major championships. The
30-year-old former European U23 champion after several years of almost constant
injuries, is delighted he is now fulfilling his potential but well aware that
despite the progress he has made, still lags well behind his dominant African
rivals. Thompson determined to be on song for the 2012 London Olympic Games,
added: “This is a big year for setting up next year and I’ll be leaving no
stone unturned between now and then.” Thompson will get an early opportunity to
gauge his true ability on Sunday when facing Haile Gebrselassie the world’s
greatest ever distance runner and other elite athletes at the Bupa Great
Manchester Run.

UBERLANDIA (BRA): Third meeting of Brazilian Athletics
Tour is 5th GP Internacional Caixa Sesi de Atletismo on May 18 in Uberlandia. Men´s triple jump with Cubans
Alexis Copello, David Girat, Yoandri Betanzos and Osniel Tosca should be the
highlight. Also jumping for US World champion Walter Davis, his team-mate Kenta Bell, Haiti
record holder Samyr Laine. In hammer throw Dilshod Nazarov and Igor Sokolovs
are the top names, in women hammer Cuban Yipsi Moreno
with Canadian Sultana Frizell, US Amber Campbell and Marina Marghieva from Moldova. Best
Brazilian female sprinter Ana Claudia Lemos Silva is facing at 100 m US Gloria Asumnu with
Mikele Barber. In the men´s 100
m World indoor champion Dwain Chambers will be running
against Trinidad´s Marc Burns and Kleston
Bledman, US
J-Mee Samuels and Rae Edwards and Jamaican Kimmari Roach.

SAO PAULO (BRA): Fourth meeting of Brazilian series offers last year US
champion Greg Nixon at 400 m
against Jamaican Dwight Mullings, Andretti Bain of Bahamas and Xavier Carter.
In the men high jump Dusty Jonas, Andra Manson, Jamie Nieto, Joe Kindred and
Keith Moffat should make it a small US Championships. Home star and olympic
winner Maurren Maggi will be jumping with top US athletes Janay De Loach, Briana
Glenn and Funmi Jimoh, Russian Yelena Sokolova is also entered. The fields in
both hammer throws and both 100
m races will be nearly identical as in Uberlandia.

RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): The last from Brazil tour, the 27th Grande Brasil
Caixa de Atletismo, will be staged on May 26 at the Joao Havelange Stadium and
will be as last year part of IAAF World Challenge. Organizers are informing
that added into already known fields will be Jamaican Steve Mullings (current world
leader) and Alonso Edward from Panama in the 200 m. World indoor champion
Fabiana Murer jumps against US Kylie Hutson, Cuban record holder Yarisley
Silva, Israeli Jillian Schwartz and Canadian Kelsie Hendry. Men triple, women
long jump, men high jump and both hammers will be nearly the same as at the
previous Brazilian meets. In the 400
m hurdles US Johnny Dutch will be the top name.

GOTZIS (AUT): The organizers of hypo meeting Gotzis (IAAF Combined
Events Challenge) announced another group of top multieventers for this years
edition (May 28-29). European top names are Barcelona
silver winner Eelco Sintnicolaas of Netherlands,
European indoor champion 2009 Mikk Pahapill from Estonia,
Commonwealth Games winner Jamie Adjetey-Nelson from Canada. Also competing Ingmar Vos
from Netherlands
and another Estonian Andres Raja. In the women field added are fresh European
Indoor champion French Antoinette Nana-Djimou, African champion Margaret
Simpson of Ghana, Lithuanian top medalist Austra Skujyte and strong Dutch trio
Jolanda Kaizer, Remona Fransen and Dafne Schippers.

ALBANY (USA):
One of the strongest American fields in recent memory will toe the line
Saturday, June 4th in downtown Albany,
NY for the 33rd edition of the
Freihofer’s Run for Women 5K. Leading the US contingent will be 35-year-old
Rebecca Donaghue, who finished 9th in 2010 (15:50) and was the event’s top
American finisher. She will be joined on the start line by Alissa McKaig a
newcomer to Freihofer’s and Emily Brown, a four-time All American at the University of Minnesota.

LAUSANNE (SUI): European Athletics has introduced Atli
and Otli as the official mascots of the European Athletics U23 Championships
held in Ostrava
from July 14 to 17. The mascots are cartoon figures of a prehistoric hunter and
his female partner, inspired by a famous stone statue found in the area. The
names of the mascots were picked following a pan-European online poll.

STUTTGART (GER): The Stuttgart indoor meeting (IAAF indoor permit
meeting) is in trouble after its long term agreement with sponsor Sparkasse has
ended. Meeting director Alain Blondel fears the 25th edition from last winter
might be the last. Stuttgart
was on all-athletics.com scoring the best one day indoor meeting in the world
in 2011.

VANCOUVER (CAN): A documentary about one of Canada’s
most legendary athletes Harry Jerome will be seen in Canadian cinemas. Canada’s
National Film Board documentary will release the movie on May 20th.

BRUSSELS (BEL): Clothing company Asics has announced
its new ambassadors Decathlete Thomas Van der Plaetsen, Belgian hurdler
Elisabeth Davin and marathon athlete Xenia Luxem writes losseveter.nl.

AMSTERDAM (NED): The Amsterdam Marathon is growing again
in 2011. The International Marathon takes place on Sunday, October 16 and currently
10,000 participants have enrolled for the various distances. Organiser Le
Champion expects 33,000 participants this year from around the world. The aim
of becoming one of the biggest marathons in Europe
is coming closer according to the organizers. Le Champion confirmed its
ambition to have 37,000 participants at the start of the various distances in
2014.

ADDITIONS

KINGSTON (JAM): The 1.2 million mentioned in the
Campbell-Brown story is Jamaican dollars, not US dollars.

EAGLE ROCK (USA,
May 8): At weekend´s Occidental invitational former world class hurdler Wille
Gault set a Masters 50 World Record in his race with a time of 10.88 (+1.8).